Total Hip Replacement

One hip replacement can be daunting for anyone to recover from but two presents a whole new world of problems. Hip replacements are needed for various reasons, including a patient born with degenerative hips, worn down hips due to age, or an accident requiring one or more hips to be replaced. During a hip replacement, the surgeon takes out the painful hip joint and replaces it with an artificial one. The new joint is made up of a combination of metal and plastic and should provide stability for the future while also providing significant pain relief, but the rehabilitation process can also be a long and painful one.

Recovery from a total hip replacement is a slow process, and each exercise must be treated as a baby step towards normalcy, but a patient must remain confident that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Initial exercises are usually performed in a seated position, often in bed, at the hospital shortly after surgery and aim to increase blood flow and regain strength in the legs. Although they can cause discomfort as well as added pain, these exercises can speed up recovery and decrease pain in the long run. The next set of exercises are often performed with a physical therapist and add in weight and resistance, implementing both lying down and standing exercises using resistance bands, ankle weights, and specific exercise machines.

Hip replacement is often the last resort when all other treatment options have failed due to the difficulty of the surgery and the length of rehabilitation. The professionals at Enhanced Physical Therapy aim to make the rehabilitation process as quick and pain free as possible while providing optimal care for all patients.